subject: Porter Operates The Gold Coast To Victory [print this page] Porter Operates The Gold Coast To Victory
Midfielder Joel Porter has shown how useful it is likely that Gold Coast United, scored two goals in a 3-1 dismantling of Sydney FC in the park Friday night qualified.
Porter, who had a slow start to the season after returning from a hamstring injury, was a constant threat in front of hosts who extended their unbeaten streak to 10 games and moved to third-League leader .
31-year-old beat Sydney goalkeeper Ivan Necevski its place close to 15 minutes before skipper Jason Culina doubled to lead a low, long-range drive in the shadows of half time.Bruno Cazarine pulled one back in Sydney with a tap-in at the time of his sixth of the season but the visitors could not break the stubborn defense Gold Coast despite its dominance in the second half possession.
But Porter, which could easily have been a first half hat-trick if it was not a bad lead-up to a teammate Traoare Adama, saved his best last year, 54 minutes.The stocky playmaker was at the Sydney defensive stop running and curve the ball into the top corner of an unstoppable strike from the corner farthest from area.
Porter goal first season helped move the Gold Coast five points short of top-ranking Brisbane and Adelaide in second place with four game hand.Sydney captured the last three only two victories and 11 points.Culina said his team has fallen towards the end of the game and starts to play attacking the character of Sydney, although most of the hard work of the United States had at this point. "It was a great performance, but was again solid," said Culina.
"The last 20 minutes we were a little back and let them play, but the work was done." Vitezslav Lavicka Sydney coach said he was proud of his team continued to press forward in the second half and put pressure on the United defense when the game seemed hopelessly lost. "We improved in the second half," said Lavicka. "They have not given up and tried to push forward, but have not changed the game."
